It was a few weeks before Thanksgiving that a couple in their 30s were offered better jobs. Though they were pleased with the offers, there was just one catch. The new jobs, which started the following January, required a move out of state. That meant their bungalow would have to go on the market during the challenging holiday season.

But the couple, parents to two preschoolers, embraced the challenge. They immediately began prepping their place for sale, tailoring their marketing plan to fit the season.

“They didn’t try to fight the season or push for too high a price. Instead, they accepted the holidays as a positive for their sale,” says Ashley Richardson, a longtime real estate agent affiliated with the Residential Real Estate Council (crs.com).

Richardson, who represented the sellers in this true story, says tasteful holiday decor can enhance a property’s appeal by giving it a warm and welcoming feel. On her advice, the couple put up the family Christmas tree as soon as showings began, several days before Thanksgiving. What’s more, they followed her recommendation and priced their place slightly below what it would have fetched during the more active spring or summer selling seasons.

The couple’s marketing plan, which included cosmetic upgrades, worked out well and their property sold at list price weeks before they had to move out of state.

Do you have a compelling need to sell during the holiday season? If so, these few pointers could prove useful:

-- Accept the advice of pros in the real estate field.

Sid Davis, author of “A Survival Guide to Selling a Home,” points out that those facing an involuntary home sale during the emotionally fraught holiday season are especially likely to challenge the counsel of the listing agent they hire. Often, they want to set a higher price for the property than their agent recommends, on the basis that they can “test the market."They’re also inclined to question the need to spend for pre-sale home improvements, such as painting or carpet replacement.

“Clients often battle their agents. They don’t like the message, so they blame the messenger. This causes lots of conflict and needless delays,” Davis says.

But those who face a compelling need to sell should try to avoid such conflicts, he says. The best way to do so is to carefully select a listing agent they trust to give you the best possible advice on your sale.

“Look for an agent who is thoroughly familiar with property values in your area. Try to find someone who’s sold homes there for at least two to three years. Also, ask for references and then question former clients about whether the agent’s advice proved sound,” Davis says.

-- Manage your time skillfully during the busy holiday season.

Many people are usually busy in December, when holiday-related activities crowd their already hectic schedules. But because home-sale preparations can eat up many hours, Davis suggests that sellers on a tight deadline consider simplifying some of their holiday social plans.

“You’re going to have to triage. Over the long run, it’s probably a lot better for your pocketbook to put your heart and soul into selling rather that expending all that energy on fancy holiday arrangements,” Davis says.

-- Don’t forgo holiday decor.

For many homeowners, one plus to showing their property during the holidays is that it should look especially attractive, assuming it’s tastefully decorated.

“Go ahead and put up lights and bring in holly and evergreen bows, if that’s what you normally do. You can also use a Christmas tree if you’d like, but don’t get so big a one that it makes your place seem crowded,” Davis says.

-- Make sure your home is accessible as long as it’s on the market.

These days, many prospective homebuyers, especially those with an urgent need to move due to a long-distance job change, are able to wrap up their property search quickly because they pre-screened property on the Internet.

“Most people are really web-savvy now. Before making a property tour in a new area, they’ve already done an extensive review of the available homes via the computer. Because of that, they land with their boots on as soon as they hit town and often do a very compressed home search,” Davis says.

What does this mean for holiday season home sellers? Davis says this makes it imperative that your home be available for showings every day and that you don’t let holiday activities block access to potential buyers who may be home shopping for just two or three days.

“A big penalty is inflicted on those who refuse to let prospects into their home when it’s inconvenient. You’ve got to keep your home especially accessible during December or risk missing some of the most eager buyers of the year -- people who have to make a job move in January,” Davis says.

(To contact Ellen James Martin, email her at ellenjamesmartin@gmail.com.)

Housing analysts theorize that millennials -- people born between 1981 and 1996 -- have turned their backs on suburbia. It’s true that many in this generation would choose a smaller, older house in a vital city neighborhood over an oversized manse in suburbia.

But recent statistics show that large, newly built suburban houses remain a favorite among a subgroup of this age cohort. Especially eager to buy new in suburbia are those now in their early 30s who’ve already started families or intend to do so soon.

For home builders, this eagerness is translating to an upsurge in orders in recent months.

“(A)ttractive mortgage rates are contributing to positive builder outlook,” says Robert Dietz, chief economist at the Washington, D.C.-based National Association of Home Builders (nahb.org).

Are you interested in buying a new house in a suburban enclave? If so, these pointers could prove helpful:

-- Seek a neighborhood where property values are likely sustainable.

James W. Hughes, an expert on housing demographics, says that in the event of an economic downturn, the real estate recovery will come earliest in areas long popular with families who have school-age children, a large segment of the suburban home-buying market.

This principle was evident in the aftermath of the housing downturn that hit the nation around 2008. The first neighborhoods to bounce back were those that remained popular throughout the recessionary period, says Hughes, a professor at Rutgers University in New Jersey.

-- Avoid neighborhoods that are logistically challenged.

For years, many families seeking very large homes have been willing to accept lengthy commutes so they could enjoy the benefits of extra living space and a big yard. Prices per square feet of living space tend to be lowest in distant suburbs. The idea, real estate agents say, is to “drive until you qualify.”

But as Hughes says, mounting traffic congestion has caused many homebuyers to question the desirability of living in an outer suburb.

Perhaps you’re willing to endure a long commute. Still, for work/life balance in the long run, Hughes advises against buying a house that’s more than a 30-minute drive from an employment center where the economy is relatively steadfast. Those who choose a closer-in suburb also stand a better chance of selling well when it’s their turn to move.

-- Pick a neighborhood with an excellent elementary school.

Much has been made of the power of strong neighborhood schools to hold up real estate values over the long run. Hughes endorses this view and says a top-rated elementary school is especially important.

“Even more than the middle or high school, an excellent elementary is something families seek out when they’re moving,” he says.

How can you be sure the house you purchase will be served by a high-performing elementary? Real estate agents are reluctant to characterize schools with descriptive adjectives. But they can quickly assemble reams of statistics, such as test scores, that will let you compare one school to another. Or you can find these data yourself by going to the local school system’s website.

-- Search for a solidly built house.

Abraham Tieh, a longtime Texas real estate broker, says there’s no reason to accept second-class construction when you choose your new suburban house. But how can you identify subdivisions where the builders took extra care? One way is to closely examine the interior detailing in a house as one indication of its construction quality.

“You can’t see behind the walls of a house that’s already built. However, you can see if the cabinetry and wood trim were well-finished. Also, you can judge whether the builder used long-lasting roofing materials or the cheapest available shingles,” says Tieh, a past president of the National Association of Exclusive Buyer Agents (naeba.org).

To further assess construction quality, he recommends you go door-to-door in any subdivision you’re considering to ask questions of residents.

“People already living in the neighborhood will tell you straight out if there have been lots of problems with the builder or if major construction flaws have surfaced,” Tieh says.

While you’re at it, he says you should survey the neighbors on the energy efficiency of their homes. For instance, ask them how much they must typically pay monthly for gas and electric service and whether their homes were outfitted with airtight, energy-efficient windows.

-- Make sure you have solid reasons for seeking an oversized property.

Families with young children typically favor large houses because of all the advantages they offer in terms of lifestyle.

“They want loads of bedrooms, bathrooms, walk-in closets, a game room for the kids and a country kitchen where everyone can hang out,” Tieh says.

Hughes says it’s only a minority of young buyers who are willing to accept a property in the suburbs in exchange for extra space. But if you’re among them, you can probably count on the appreciation potential of your large property, so long as it’s solidly built and not too far from a town or city center.

“A segment of the population will always prefer big houses, just as they’ll prefer big cars if they can afford them," he says.

(To contact Ellen James Martin, email her at ellenjamesmartin@gmail.com.)

Stacy Berman has sold homes for nearly two decades, and numerous times each year, she helps clients move through heart-wrenching transitions to let go of a beloved property.

One recent case involved an accountant in her 40s who’d long resided in a small bungalow with her professor husband, two school-age daughters and her elderly mother. In the wake of the grandmother’s death from cancer, the family, who’d outgrown their small abode, realized it was time to upsize their living quarters.

But the accountant found it terribly difficult to let go of the bungalow. Why? Because she had such happy memories of living there during her mother’s healthier years.

“Irrationally, she feared that the happy memories of her mother would be gone forever after the bungalow was sold,” Berman says.

While it’s relatively rare for people of middle age to experience despair upon the sale of a property, it’s common for senior citizens to go through a rough housing transition when they downsize. That’s especially true for those who’ve lived in a family home for decades and raised their children there. For them, downsizing often feels like the end of their vital years and independence.

Even so, there can be significant advantages for older homeowners to step down to a smaller place, especially if this liberates them from arduous and expensive home upkeep requirements and lets them extract equity at a favorable time for the real estate market.

Here are a few pointers for sellers:

-- Launch a broad search for your next home before selling.

With more than 20 years of experience selling real estate behind her, Ashley Richardson, of the Long & Foster realty firm, has gained a key insight into the emotional bond that many people have to a longtime residence. She says it’s often possible to transfer this attachment to another home.

Consequently, she recommends that sentimental sellers start looking for their next residence as soon as they put their property on the market or even earlier.

“This way, you’ll more quickly detach from the house where you’ve been living for a long time,” says Richardson, who’s affiliated with the Residential Real Estate Council (crs.com). However, she urges those making a housing transition to restrict their property search solely to neighborhoods with homes they can afford, so as not to set themselves up for disappointment later.

-- Confirm your housing plans with your grown children.

Mark Nash, a real estate analyst and author of “1001 Tips for Buying and Selling a Home,” says many empty-nesters fear that letting go of a long-held property will mean fewer visits from family members. Yet lots of would-be sellers are also anxious to liberate themselves from the carrying costs a large property requires.

To address their fears of fewer family visits after downsizing, Nash says it can be wise for sellers to discuss these anxieties with their offspring. Perhaps future multi-generational family visits could be centered in a resort area where all could spend quality time together.

-- Depersonalize your property by removing memorabilia.

To break the emotional ties to their property, it helps many people to sort through and remove sentimental items. Nash says you’ll want to cull through your family memorabilia, eliminating all but the most precious of items.

“I can’t tell you how many people save their kids’ cribs in hopes that one day they’ll be used by their grandchildren or great-grandchildren. But those old cribs probably don’t even meet today’s standards for child safety,” Nash says.

Nash suggests you also give away or pack away many other family-related items, including toys and children’s books. And he recommends you remove family photographs from your walls.

“While you’re at it, you’ll need to paint the interior walls of your house. Be sure to repaint that purple room where your son lived as a teenager in a nice neutral tone, and cover over those pencil marks you made on the wall as your children grew up,” he says.

Neutralizing your property will not only help you detach from the place emotionally. It will also make it easier for you and your listing agent to attract buyers.

“People aren’t going to pay more because your house is filled with memories. In fact, having lots of memorabilia on display will only slow the sale of your property, because it keeps people from picturing themselves living there,” Nash says.

(To contact Ellen James Martin, email her at ellenjamesmartin@gmail.com.)